NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2011 -- A new season of Spike TV's college football comedy series "Blue Mountain State" kicks-off starting Wednesday, September 21 with two back-to-back episodes at 11 PM and 11:30 PM, ET/PT.

"Blue Mountain State" follows the on and off-field antics of college football powerhouse, Blue Mountain State. Former NFL running back and veteran actor, Ed Marinaro ("Hill Street Blues"), stars as no-nonsense Coach Daniels. In season 3, Coach Daniels will have his authority challenged when the boosters force him to hire a hotshot offensive coordinator/head coach-in-waiting. Alex, played by Emmy Award(R)-winner Darin Brooks ("Blue Crush"), will have to step up from being a fun-loving second-string to the starting quarterback. The cast also includes Thad, played by Alan Ritchson ("Smallville"), the team's over-the-top team captain and Sammy, the team's mascot, played by Romanski ("The Sarah Silverman Program").

Denise Richards returns for a second season as Debra, the sexy, sharp-tongued ex-wife of Coach Daniels.

In the season three premiere at 11 PM, ET/PT titled "The Captain," Alex (Brooks) adjusts to becoming the starting quarterback and team captain, Thad (Ritchson) awaits word on his future with the team after his drug related arrest following BMS' loss in last season's championship game. Following the arrival of a new offensive coordinator, Marcus Gilday (Anthony Lemke) with a desire and scheme to take BMS head coach Marty Daniels' (Ed Marinaro) job, Coach Daniels finds an unlikely ally in ex-wife Debra (Denise Richards). New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco makes a guest appearance, coming to campus to take part in a bizarre captain induction ceremony for Alex.

The second episode at 11:30 PM, ET/PT titled "Dic Pics," Alex (Brooks) and Thad (Ritchson) deal with the ramifications of a pornographic photo that Thad sent from Alex's phone after it makes its way around campus. The episode features guest appearances by Richard Christy and Sal Governale of "The Howard Stern Show."

Spike.com will also get into all the football action with "Blue Mountain State." In addition to featuring weekly preview clips and highlight segments from each episode once the season starts, bms.spike.com will feature exclusive season three content including info on celebrity cameos, character biographies and a Music of Blue Mountain State section where fans can find out where to buy songs heard on the show. Fans can "Join The Goathouse" to receive weekly emails and exclusive content about "Blue Mountain State" starting now and continuing throughout the season, and can also connect to the series via the official Blue Mountain State Facebook page and follow the all the action on Twitter @BlueMtnState and the hashtag, #BMS.

Produced by Varsity Pictures' Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), "Blue Mountain State" experienced significant ratings growth in season 2 compared to season 1, delivering a +33% increase in Men 18-34, +50% in Men 18-24, and +14% in Men 18-49.

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men," "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along with the comedy "Blue Mountain State," the upcoming drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne," its spinoff "Meet The Browns," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?." Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

Spike TV is available in 99.8 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.